Today, food safety is one of the most important issue. Safe food makes a great contribution to improving human health and quality of life. Therefore, the standards for food production facilities and factories are increasingly strict. The model that businesses focus on is the food clean room. So what is a food clean room and what standards are necessary for a food clean room? Let’s learn about this food cleanroom standard through the article below.
What is food production cleanroom ?
Food production clean room is a clean room which in a food production and processing facility. Food production clean room must fully meet basic clean room standards, including:
– Minimize contamination of food in clean rooms.
– Layout, installation and arrangement of facilities and equipment must create favorable conditions for maintenance, cleaning and disinfection and minimize air pollution.
– Food contact surfaces must be non-toxic, durable and easy to maintain and clean.
– Equipment for controlling temperature, humidity and other requirements must be fully equipped, qualified and located in appropriate locations.
– Prepare a plan to protect food when there are pests from the outside environment.
In addition, the food production cleanroom standard also has its own requirements compared to the cleanroom of other industries. With strict standards, food cleanroom has become the optimal solution to minimize bacteria production, helping food to be better preserved.
Currently, food production cleanroom standards are widely applied in the production and processing of dairy products, juices, meat and seafood processing or confectionery production, etc.
Food production cleanroom
2. Specific standards for food production cleanroom
2.1. Specific standards for food production cleanroom
Cleanroom in food production facility must meet ISO 22000/HACCP.
Normally, cleanroom in food production must meet at least class 100 000. In addition, the standards follow the 1-way principle; Walls, ceilings must be made of materials with label surface, waterproof, non-toxic and easy to clean when necessary.
2.2. Location, structure of food production cleanroom
Location: Food clean rooms should be located away from areas with high levels of pollution such as areas with many industrial activities; areas prone to flooding; areas with disease-causing organisms; areas where solid or liquid wastes are difficult to handle.
Walls, partitions: must be made of durable, waterproof, smooth, non-toxic surface that can be easily cleaned when necessary
Floor: impermeable, not stagnant, easy to clean
Ceiling: should be designed to prevent dust accumulation, condensation or falling
Window: installed in a suitable place, structure prevents dust accumulation, can be disassembled to facilitate cleaning, when necessary, it can be install an anti-insect system.
2.3. Food production cleanroom equipment and facilities
Equipment and containers (in contact with food) must be made of non-toxic materials, designed to be easily cleaned, disinfected and maintained.
Temperature control: depending on the nature of food processing operations, adequate and necessary facilities (heating, cooling, cooking, cooling, freezing, etc.)
Ventilation system: designed so that there is no movement of air from the contaminated area to the clean area. At the same time, the system also needs to be easy to maintain and clean.
Lighting: Light (natural or artificial) must be provided adequately during work and should not affect the workers’ vision. Light intensity also needs to be adjusted accordingly. Protective devices are required to avoid debris of the light source.
Maintenance: these facilities should be designed to be easy to clean and maintain; avoid the entry of harmful organisms; minimize food spoilage..
The application of food production cleanroom standards will help businesses improve product quality and increase efficiency in production to meet the increasing requirements of the market. This is definitely what food production businesses want to achieve.
INTECH is always ready to be accompanied in the construction of clean rooms to ensure food cleanroom standards, fully meeting the requirements of businesses.
* Standard: TCVN 5603 : 2008